Tag: ether feels

A lot of bands come and go. The Japanese shoegaze scene has seen so many really good bands just disappear out of nowhere or break up without notice that I’ve become desensitized to it. Late last night, however, Kansai shoegaze legends Ether Feels announced that its October gig in Taiwan was its last. The band’s members would be splitting up, and Ether Feels would be going on an indefinite hiatus. The news really hit home (enough to get me to come back and post after a few months away).

A lot of bands come and go. The Japanese shoegaze scene has seen so many really good bands just disappear out of nowhere or break up without notice that I’ve become desensitized to it. Late last night, however, Kansai shoegaze legends Ether Feels announced that its October gig in Taiwan was its last. The band’s members would be splitting up, and Ether Feels would be going on an indefinite hiatus. The news really hit home (enough to get me to come back and post after a few months away).

On a personal level, Ether Feels was an extremely important band. I had been to various gigs since moving to Japan in the spring of 2012, but my first ever venture into the heart of the Japanese shoegaze scene was in January of 2013 at the Osaka leg of the Japan Shoegazer Festival. The bill was headlined by the likes of like Lemon’s Chair and Cruyff in the Bedroom, but the band that blew me away was the lesser-known Ether Feels – then a three-piece. The performance was mesmerizing. It says a lot that Ether Feels was the highlight of the night, when Lemon’s Chair also played. Since that night, the band’s founder Tomo, has been one of the coolest, most supportive people I’ve known. He’s one of the really good guys in a scene in which the veterans aren’t always the most pleasant or sincere.

Ether Feels at the 2013 Japan Shoegazer Festival Osaka

Shoegaze in Japan in the early to mid 00s – unofficially referred to as the “golden age” of Japanese shoegaze – was strong but derivative. Shoegaze in the current Japanese scene is often criticized for being too poppy and melodic, and not strong enough. Ether Feels’ sound combines the best of each of these periods. They borrow the requisite “wall of sound” guitar waves from the forefathers of the genre, using that element as a backdrop for their signature melancholy. It’s powerful and sad and the vocal melodies will rip your heart to pieces. Ether Feels’ sound is unique in a genre where pastiche is praised, and that’s helped to establish them as one of the best shoegaze bands on the planet.

I will say that a fair criticism I’ve heard about the band is that their songs can be a bit repetitive. It’s totally true, but I’ve never found it to be a bad thing in Ether Feels’ case. The repetition almost hypnotic (think The Fleeting Joys’ “Kiss a Girl in Black”) The song that stuck with me from the first time I heard it was “Annabelle”. It’s basically just two and a half parts played over and over, but the song hit me hard and showcases the dreamy sadness that made me fall in love with them in the first place.

I’m biased and a bit emotional in light of the news, but the love I have for this band is genuine. It’s been a bit disappointing seeing Ether Feels somewhat underappreciated within the Japanese scene. There’s the perception that the scene here runs through Tokyo, and in particular Koenji HIGH, but Ether Feels managed to forego that step of the process en route to playing all over the country as well as in Taiwan and Hong Kong, while also being included on a massive international shoegaze compilation. All the while, Ether Feels has also helped usher in a new wave of shoegaze bands in Japan, while encouraging the scene to continue to grow in the Kansai region.

If there’s one bit of good news in all of this, it’s that Ether Feels technically isn’t over. Some would argue that the most recent lineup was the band’s best ever, but the fact remains that Tomo is the brains of the operation and he still seems dedicated to continuing what he referred to as his “life work”. It would appear that there is still hope for the future, but for now it’s a good opportunity to sit back and reflect on the career of one of the best Japanese bands in recent memory.

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably already familiar with Ether Feels’ catalog, but if by some chance you’re not, I recommend diving right in on their Bandcamp page and enjoying everything they’ve done. Sadly, the Raindrop Sparkle CD – my personal favorite – isn’t up here, but the rest of their stuff is great as well.

There was a lot of new shoegaze and dream pop coming out of Japan in 2016, and , even more so than in previous years, album releases were way outnumbered by EPs, singles, and mini albums. As a result I was faced with a couple of problems when putting together my annual “best of the year” list. The first is that there weren’t ten full-length releases that qualified.

There was a lot of new shoegaze and dream pop coming out of Japan in 2016, and , even more so than in previous years, album releases were way outnumbered by EPs, singles, and mini albums. As a result I was faced with a couple of problems when putting together my annual “best of the year” list. The first is that there weren’t ten full-length releases that qualified. Rather than making a numbered list this time around, I’ve decided to just name my favorite single, EP/mini-album, and album of the year, and then name a few honorable mentions for each category.

It’s a completely different feel from what I’ve put together the last couple years, but it serves the same purpose. Enjoy, discuss, buy some music.

Note: I’d like to preface this whole list by saying that I’m aware of the new releases from Kinoko Teikoku, My Dead Ishikawa, Qujaku, and others, and I really liked a bunch of them. Defining genres is tricky, but I decided not to mess with an already blurry line and include the releases that I felt qualified. The aforementioned did not.

★ ☆ ★ Best Single ★ ☆ ★

“Planet Heaven/Perfect Lies” by Juvenile Juvenile

It’s no secret that Juvenile Juvenile is one of my favorite bands in Japan. Their “Our Great Escape” album topped my 2014 list, and the band came back strong with its first recorded material in 2 years. The single was produced by The Bilinda Butcher’ Michal Palmer, and further solidified their status as the finest dream pop band in Japan. It’s also worth noting that Juvenile Juvenile also submitted a really good cover of “I Wish I Was Skinny” for The Blog That Celebrates Itself’s Boo Radleys tribute comp this year.

This was a pretty clear cut winner, but there was some quality in the next group of singles released, headed by Nagoya shoegaze newcomers Softsurf. Their “Blue Swirl/Beautiful Day” single was a really solid debut. If I was doing a “liver performances of the year” list, they’d be right at the top along with Juvenile Juvenile for their performances at Daydream Nagoya.

Saitama’s Collapse was another newcomer to the Japanese shoegaze scene, and they put out a couple of releases in 2016, including their super-gazey “Curse/Drop” single. More on them later.

Tokyo’s Youthmemory put out perhaps their catchiest track yet on the spring 2016 “April Kisses” release. One of the more underrated bands in Japan walking the line between shoegaze and jangly indie pop.

Yukino Chaos – a band that’s established itself as a mainstay of the Japanese shoegaze scene, and one of the best young alternative rock acts in Japan – had a busy 2016 that kicked off with the release of its “Hope for the Future” single. Despite a really positive 2016, the band has unfortunately announced it will be on an indefinite hiatus.

★ ☆ ★ Best EP ★ ☆ ★

“Night Falls” by Magic Love

At this moment, there may not be a better shoegaze band in Japan than Magic Love. The Tokyo band left us wanting more with its 2014 “Dawn” E.P., and after a couple years they delivered. On Night Falls, the band showed that they can deliver big walls of sound and more chilled out dream pop, switching back and forth between male and female vocals flawlessly. “Midnight Baby” has gotten all the love, but “Ghost Novice” was one of the best tracks of the year.

This one wasn’t as easy to pick, due in large part to the fact that there was so much quality released in EP format this year. One of the pleasant surprises was that some of the best EP releases of the year were put out by brand new bands. Collapse made the best singles of the year list, and they also appear on the EP list for their self-titled EP, which was released in February. The Saitama band, not unlike a number of newcomers to the Japanese shoegaze scene, doesn’t shy away from big wall-ish guitars, citing metal among its genre influences.

Scale is another new band that has made the best EP list, but it’s important to note that since the release of its debut EP “Hidden Blue”, the band has changed its name to Waterblink. A throwback to the early 2000s shoegaze scene, Scale goes in hard – its founding member also plays in post punk hardcore band Deviation – but also balances things out with some catchy melodies.

Shiga’s Yuragi turned a lot of heads with the release of their debut EP “Bedside” earlier in the year. Their “Nightlife” EP, which made it in right at the end of 2016, was a massive next step. The band’s second EP had some of the same pop appeal of the first, but also ventured off in a bit more of a darker, more exploratory direction.

One band that’s remained a mystery to me over the last couple years is Sapporo, Hokkaido shoegaze outfit Edy Two Arc (formerly known simply as Edy). Confined primarily to their hometown and Koenji’s HIGH venue, it’s been difficult to access the band from here in Nagoya, but that changed on Christmas Day 2016 with the release of their debut EP “Hide Intention”. Released via Only Feedback Records, the EP boasts a perfect balance of blaring, fuzzed out guitars and beautiful, subtle vocals.

★ ☆ ★ Best Album ★ ☆ ★

“Blood Music” by The Florist

Just like Juvenile Juvenile and Magic Love, 2016 saw The Florist release its first material in two years. The band’s 2014 debut featured a couple of killer singles, but Blood Music is start to finish a more complete album. In tracks like “Marigold” and “Ghosts” – my personal favorite off the record – Blood Music boasts its own signature tracks, and those weren’t even the album’s singles. A very emotional eleven-track ride with some excellent guitar work and gorgeous tones.

Picking the best album of the year was tough, as there were three that I felt strongly qualified. The debut full length effort from Tokyo-based indie/dream pop outfit For Tracy Hyde was right there at the top. Film Bleu is the culmination of the band’s hard work and development since it’s inception in 2012. Featuring a number of tracks previously released on EPs and as demos, Film Bleu showcases some seriously good songwriting in the band’s signature sweet pop style. “After” is a song of the year candidate.

Veterans of the Japanese shoegaze scene, and one of the best around, Osaka’s Ether Feels released a Greatest Hits album in 2016. The nine-track record consists of two previously released EPs and three newly recorded songs, including a new version of fan-favorite “Annabelle”. The melancholy shoegazers continue to pump out heart breaking, nostalgic tunes, with “She’s Wanderlust” highlighting the newest batch of music. Toward the end of the year, Ether Feels also collaborated on a split EP with Yukino Chaos.

Last year, Plant Cell released a lot of quality tracks, but did so one track at a time and thus didn’t really have any material to qualify for a list of best EPs or albums. This year, however, the band released a couple of demo EPs as well as a full album titled Flowergaze?, so their inclusion this time around is a no-brainer. Some of the more beautiful shoegaze you’ll find, Plant Cell’s strength is the ability to weave subtle melodies through dreamy layers of synths and guitars. “Snow and Luculia” is the recommended track off this one.

The event will host some of the finest shoegaze, dream pop, alt rock, etc. that Japan has to offer. I will be previewing each of the events as they come. Day three of the event will be held at Shinjuku Nine Spices in Tokyo this Saturday, December 10th.

Over the last few years, Kyoto Shoegazer has emerged as the biggest showcase of the local shoegaze scene in Japan. This year the Kyoto Shoegazer team has put together Daydream, a four day festival spanning three cities that will kick off in December. The event will host some of the finest shoegaze, dream pop, alt rock, etc. that Japan has to offer. I will be previewing each of the events as they come. Day three of the event will be held at Shinjuku Nine Spices in Tokyo this Saturday, December 10th.

colm

Colm is sort of a Kyoto Shoegazer supergroup, consisting of members of Ether Feels, Kailios, shelives, and AOQ. The band is relatively new, and Daydream Kyoto will be their third gig since forming up earlier this year. The band’s sound combines elements of shoegaze and pop. Colm recently finished recording its first EP, and the 4-track CD was released at the Kyoto event.

yukino chaos

One of Japan’s brightest young acts, Yukino Chaos has come on strong over the last couple years with dynamic live performances and some really impressive recordings. 2016 saw the release of a new demo single “Hope For The Future” and a supporting slot at Tokyo’s Niman Den-Atsu alongside Melt Banana, Looprider, and Qujaku. The band was also invited to Shanghai along with Broken Little Sister earlier this year. They’ll be releasing a split EP with fellow Daydream performers Ether Feels in December.

ether feels

There are few active shoegaze bands in Japan that have put out as much consistently good material as Ether Feels. Their melancholy blend of pop and shoegaze has resulted in a sound that is all their own, and their quality has earned them a good amount of attention outside of their home country. Their Daydream performances will wrap up a busy year that’s included gigs around Asia, the release of a greatest hits album titled hen The First Time We Met and an upcoming split EP with Yukino Chaos.

日本でEther Feelsほど、コンスタントに良い楽曲をシーンに提供してきたバンドはそういないだろう。彼ら独自のポップとシューゲイズのメランコリーな配合は、日本国外でも注目を集めてきた。DAYDREAMでのパフォーマンスは、アジア各地でのライブ、ベストオブアルバムhen The First Time We Metのリリース、Yukino ChaosとスプリットEPの共同リリース、と忙しい年の有終の美を飾るだろう。

magic love

While a lot of bands infuse their sound with indie pop or post rock, Tokyo’s Magic Love incorporates the howling guitar noise associated with a more “classic” shoegaze/dream pop sound. On all of their releases to date, the band has consistently been able to balance a lulling, dreamy style with bouts of sheer loudness. This year they put out their first release since 2014, an EP titled “Night Falls”.

citrus nowhere

Citrus Nowhere is a new and exciting young band from Tokyo that made a name for itself earlier this year with its debut self-titled EP. They’ve since released more material via Soundcloud and have appeared on both Muso Japan compilations. The band’s tendency to drown whimsical melodies in a mass of roaring noise makes them one of the more unique bands in the Japanese shoegaze scene. For fans of massive noise.

soranisomaruoto

Soranisomaruoto is a newly formed rock band founded by former sorutomanitooto member Minako. The Tokyo four-piece’s sound draws on a number of genres, from shoegaze to post rock to j-pop to prog rock. The band’s appearance at Daydream Tokyo will be their first ever live performance.

Longstanding Japanese shoegaze representative Lemon’s Chair has been a fixture in the scene for years. The trio is known for evolving beautifully layered melodic songs into a deafening, hazy “wall of sound”. In addition to their musical accomplishments, members of Lemon’s Chair have been extremely involved in the national shoegaze scene, organizing the Japan Shoegazer Festival, indie label High Fader Records, and the popular Yellow Loveless My Bloody Valentine tribute album. This is one of the most important bands in Japanese shoegaze over the last 10 years.

This time I’ll be looking at Daydream Kyoto Day 2, which will take place at Nijo Nano. Follow the links below for event info and ticket reservations.

Over the last few years, Kyoto Shoegazer has emerged as the biggest showcase of the local shoegaze scene in Japan. This year the Kyoto Shoegazer team has put together Daydream, a four day festival spanning three cities that will kick off in December. The event will host some of the finest shoegaze, dream pop, alt rock, etc. that Japan has to offer. I will be previewing each of the events as they come. This time I’ll be looking at Daydream Kyoto Day 2, which will take place at Nijo Nano. Follow the links below for event info and ticket reservations.

Honeydew

Honeydew is a Tokyo-based alt rock power trio. Originally formed in New York, the band’s sound is influenced by a number of 90s American alternative bands, and versatile enough to appeal to a wide range of fans. Their live performances are ultra-tight, and their high-energy performances are absolutely must see.

me in grasshopper

With members based between the Kansai and Tokai regions of Japan, it’s only fitting that me in grasshopper will be performing at Daydream events in both Kyoto and Nagoya. Over the past few years the band has become one of the flag bearers for the Nagoya shoegaze scene on the strength of their sweet melodies and subtle yet persistent guitar noise. Their 2015 “NEW SATURDAY e.p.” was one of the best of the year. In 2016 the band supported YUCK on their Japan tour, and they will be supporting Brooklyn’s Lazyeyes in Nagoya in January.

Yuragi

Hailing from Shiga prefecture, Yuragi is yet another young, exciting band to emerge from the Kansai-region over the last couple years. Their sweet but strong sound incorporates whispy vocals and big wall of sound guitars driven by uptempo pop beats. 2016 has been a big year for the band with the release of their “bedside” single and the announcement of their upcoming “nightlife e.p.”, which will be out on 12/27. They’ve also announced they will be supporting Lazyeyes on the New Yorkers’ Japan tour.

Acidclank

Acidclank is another one of those exciting young Kansai bands. The Osaka indie rock outfit put out a really impressive album titled nner in 2015, on which they demonstrated their ability to create a range of sounds from shoegaze to psych at a consistently high level. Once a home recording project, Acidclank is now a fully functioning live band that has been gigging a ton over the last year or so. These guys have a bright future ahead of them.

ether feels

There are few active shoegaze bands in Japan that have put out as much consistently good material as Ether Feels. Their melancholy blend of pop and shoegaze has resulted in a sound that is all their own, and their quality has earned them a good amount of attention outside of their home country. Their Daydream performances will wrap up a busy year that’s included gigs around Asia, the release of a greatest hits album titled hen The First Time We Met and an upcoming split EP with Yukino Chaos.

日本でEther Feelsほど、コンスタントに良い楽曲をシーンに提供してきたバンドはそういないだろう。彼ら独自のポップとシューゲイズのメランコリーな配合は、日本国外でも注目を集めてきた。DAYDREAMでのパフォーマンスは、アジア各地でのライブ、ベストオブアルバムhen The First Time We Metのリリース、Yukino ChaosとスプリットEPの共同リリース、と忙しい年の有終の美を飾るだろう。

twelve fluffy chair

Local band Twelve Fluffy Chair offers a sparkly brand of shoegaze pop. The Kyoto foursome recently released their second EP B A R, which features some cute guitar-driven pop tracks. Their strength lies in their ability to write ultra catchy choruses and melodic hooks, as well as adding a little edge to otherwise light, playful songs.

boyfriend’s dead

Boyfriend’s Dead is a Kansai-area shoegaze veteran and a band that adds an element of fun to any gig they play. Their sound is an upbeat, danceable blend of shoegaze and pop, and their energy and stage presence makes for a great live show. The band’s most recent release came in the form of a self-titled EP released on local Osaka-based netlabel Thru The Flowers.

2015 saw a ridiculous number of releases, making these lists more difficult than in years past. As is often the case, there were a lot more EPs put out in 2015 so narrowing them all down to the ten best was tough and meant omitting some worthy bands…

2015 saw a ridiculous number of releases, making these lists more difficult than in years past. As is often the case, there were a lot more EPs put out in 2015 so narrowing them all down to the ten best was tough and meant omitting some worthy bands – in particular Wintermute, Group2, haguki, and Thru The Flowers artists Boyfriend’s Dead and Honey Mustard Sauce.

The best albums list was also a bit difficult, and while Xinlisupreme and Looprider put out a couple of my favorite albums of the year, in keeping with the “shoegaze albums” theme I decided to leave them off (though I’d argue that “Satellite” from Looprider’s My Electric Fantasy was among the best shoegaze tracks in 2015).

I did a lot of swapping of the orders of these lists, and this is where I finally settled, though I could easily change things around and still be happy. All of the links below will lead you to digital and/or physical purchase options (where applicable), and all of the shops that sell physical versions do ship internationally so if you dig what you hear I encourage you to grab a copy for yourself.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my favorite Japanese shoegaze releases of 2015:

The EPs

10. The Skateboard Kids – Spiritus (Ollie)

These guys burst onto the Nagoya scene this year with the release of their first EP, Spiritus, and have continued to blow away audiences with a live show so tight and dynamic it’s hard to believe that they’re so young. Spiritus is four tracks of well-written, well-executed, melodic pop music wrapped in atmospheric guitars, and topped with breathy vocals. “Somewhere” is my favorite track on the EP, but the CD’s closer “Saihate” is massive when performed live. Skateboard Kids is one to keep an eye on in the future. (buy it here)

9. Whisper Voice Riot – Before The Morning Cleaves Our Night

From one impressive young band to another, Osaka teenage four-piece Whisper Voice Riot was one of the bands on my watch list going into this year. They put out a couple nice tracks toward the end of last year that got them noticed and subsequently booked outside their hometown, and ended up having a very eventful 2015. Another young band whose songwriting ability is beyond their years, Whisper Voice Riot joined forces with fellow Osaka musician, Post Modern Team’s Kishida-san, who produced their debut EP Before The Morning Cleaves Our Night. The EP is a really nice blend of shoegaze and indie pop, ranging from the danceable, foot-tapping “LET’S DANCE AND SINK DOWN” to the slower, hazier guitar-deluge that is “Stand on the Moon”. (buy it here)

8. Tenkiame – So Sad About Us

One of the most fun bands around right now, Tenkiame just play music that they like. You’ll hear a huge Art-School influence in their sound, and that’s simply because they want to sound like Art-School. The band, which is something of a Tokyo indie-rock supergroup, formed up earlier this year and hit the ground running, putting out demos seemingly within days and then the debut EP, So Sad About Us. There’s not a whole lot to break down musically on the album other than the fact that it’s straightforward, fun, noisy, and vocal lines like the one in the chorus of “Candy” will stick to your brain like a parasitic Riki Kinoshita (in a good way). (buy it here)

7. me in grasshopper – New Saturday e.p.

As one of the longstanding representatives of the Nagoya shoegaze scene, it’s on me in grasshopper’s shoulders to represent the city’s local scene well, and they did just that with their most recent EP New Saturday. While “Himawari” is their signature track, their sweet, warm brand of shoegaze is really well represented in my favorite song on the EP, “Extra”. There’s a sadness to the track that reminds me a bit of Ether Feels, and the male-female vocal harmonies are perfect. On the other side of their sound spectrum are some cute pop tracks. All-in-all it’s a lighter-hearted, but nevertheless unique and addictive style of shoegaze. (buy here)

6. Ether Feels – Veils of Brightness

I’ve always been pretty outspoken about my love of Osaka’s Ether Feels. I was a bit curious about the new EP, wondering how the addition of female vocals might effect their sound as I really thought previously full-time frontman Tomo’s voice worked perfectly with their nostalgic, melancholy brand of shoegaze. Newcomer to the band, Yoshino, adds a really cool new element to Ether Feels’ already deep sound, particularly on the EP’s opener “Lightwave”. They don’t employ the “twin vocals” that are so common in Japanese shoegaze, but use the male and female vocals to compliment each other trading back and forth and harmonizing really well without disturbing the distinctly ‘Ether Feels’ vibe to their sound. (buy it here)

5. cruyff in the bedroom – Laurelei (Only Feedback)

The proclaimed “Japanese King of Shoegazer” put out two four-track EPs this year, the first of which earned a spot on this list. The title track is an absolutely immense shoegaze track, with a thick, dreamy build up to a huge, swirling finale. The next song is a hook-y change of pace titled “She is a Low”, and the second half of the EP features a remix of each – one by fellow Tokyo shoegazers broken little sister and the other by Clubbers. It is classic cruyff in the bedroom, who demonstrated why they are arguably the most noticeable and highly-regarded Japanese shoegaze band around.

4. Whhhy!!!!! – 1st EP

I didn’t see this release coming this past spring, but I was really impressed with Whhhy!!!!!’s 1st EP (appropriately titled 1st EP) when I finally got around to hearing it. The 5-piece Tokyo-based band draw on genre icons My Bloody Valentine and Pale Saints while channeling a bit of Supercar, particularly on the opening track. There’s some very clear Koji-Miki vocal influence in there as well. While there are no real weak points on the whole EP, the first 3 tracks are the strongest, with “Mouichido” and “Meteor” being personal highlights. (buy it here)

3. Yukino Chaos – Everything Means Nothing To Me

Another band that was on my watch list at the start of 2015, Yukino Chaos came on strong this year with an impressive showing at the January Total Feedback event and released their demo EP Everything Means Nothing To Me in March. My only knock on this EP is that it’s only three songs, but as far as demo EPs go this is as good as it gets – the songwriting is fantastic and the sound quality is without any major flaws. The fact that these guys are just getting started is really exciting. Good news: they’ve got some more new music coming out in early 2016.

2. 17 Years Old and the Berlin Wall – Aspect

I was really surprised by how good this mini-album from 17 Berlin was, thanks in large part to a pretty noticeable step up in production. The result was a much cleaner and more powerful version of their “sparkly shoegaze pop” sound. Just when you think that 17 Berlin is holding it all back in favor of a lighter, poppier sound they let loose on the CD’s middle portion – a welcome change from their previously released material. The transition from mediocre demos to high level releases is a theme at the top of this EP list, and a trend that I hope to see continue across the board in the Japanese shoegaze scene. (buy it here)

1. Cattle – Somehow Hear Songs (ZERO COOL/Jigsaw)

As difficult as this list was to put together, figuring out the best EP of 2015 was probably the easiest decision to make. I had it penciled in as such since its release in early July, and it staved off a flurry of stiff competition to stay at the top. Cattle sort of came out of nowhere with this release. It wasn’t that their sound wasn’t already familiar, as they’d been hanging around in the Japanese shoegaze scene for a while, but with the help of producer Makoto Gomi they quickly went from releasing catchy, if unspectacular, demos to putting out a seriously impressive, brutally loud but melodically sweet EP. It was enough to propel Cattle from a middle-of-the-lineup Total Feedback slot in January to a supporting slot on the Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s Japan tour in November, and right to the forefront of the new wave of impressive shoegaze bands in Japan. (buy it here)

The Albums

10. Gunkei Nakashima – Jyuu-gatsu

Gunkei Nakashima is a bit of a mystery, but this year they’ve put out a ton of music including an EP, a bunch of individually released songs, and this hard-hitting shoegaze-infused record 13-track album. The guitars on Jyuu-gatsu are brutal and unrelenting right off the bat. Surprisingly the album is better with the use of vocaloid than without, thanks to the blanket of guitar noise that keeps the synthesized vocals at a perfect level in the mix. The album plays like a home studio demo, but there’s a nice depth to Gunkei Nakashima’s sound and some simple but creative arranging of parts that is really pleasant. (free download here)

Over the last couple of years, arguably no one has done a better job of showcasing the newcomers to the Japanese shoegaze scene than Kiiro Records. Their FOREVER SHOEGAZE comps have been much talked about in shoegaze circles both in Japan and overseas, and the netlabel’s free digital release policy has attracted a large audience and brought attention to some of Japan’s hidden musical treasures. This year Kiiro released a Japan Shoegazer Festival exclusive CD-R, and it might be their best comp to date with songs from the likes of Cattle, Youthmemory, Group2, AOQ, Yukino Chaos, and more. Unfortunately the CD-R was a very limited release, but Kiiro has made it available for stream on their Bandcamp page. If you’ve got $1,000USD lying around and are feeling especially charitable you can download it as well.

8. Yudachi – Yoru no Fune ha Shiroku Oritatamarete (indienative)

This could very well be the prettiest album on the list. Yudachi are masters at creating big billowy guitar textures and topping them with whimsical, breathy vocals. The Tokyo band’s newest release is more of their ultra-mellow and dreamy brand of music, with “空洞” being my favorite track. It’s one of those “put on headphones and close your eyes” albums that you can really get lost in. Probably not the best album to listen to on the train, though (as I can personally attest). (buy it here)

This is one of those albums where you know what you’re going to get, you’re not surprised by any of it, and it’s really good. Japanese shoegaze mainstays My Dead Girlfriend did what they’ve always done on hades, with uptempo guitar-slathered pop tunes and super catchy vocal melodies. The synths are maybe a bit more prominent on this album as a whole than on their previous works, but the familiar My Dead Girlfriend vibe remains in tact on what can best be described as a really fun and very tight record. (buy it here)

6. Acidclank – Inner

While I admittedly know next to nothing about Acidclank, I do know that the Osaka outfit’s 2015 album Inner went largely under the radar, and I have no idea how. More of an exploration of 90s British indie music than a pure shoegaze band, Acidclank draws on a number of famous artists to put together an album that is heavily influenced but never a shameless copy. After a distinctly shoegaze opening, Acidclank floats wafting layers of guitars over a range of grooves, mellowed out psych, and catchy pop tunes. Easily the most underrated album of the year. (free download here)

5. Tokenai Namae – Time Machine ga Kowareru Mae ni (SODA ROOM)

Nagoya’s most well-known shoegaze band put out their debut full length album in 2015 and did not disappoint. The kayou-shoegazers’ release, which included all-new material, was a significant step up from their previously released EPs. A point of contention about the band has been how high in the mix the bubbly synth leads have sat, and on Time Machine ga Kowareru Mae ni the balance between their essential pop element and the roaring shoegaze guitars is just right. I’d been looking forward to the album, and it exceeded all of my expectations. My personal favorite track “少女の官能基” is a playful, guitar-drenched pop tune that pretty much sums up why Tokenai Namae’s sound is so highly regarded. Also that fuzzy bass tone is so good. (buy it here)

4. The Piqnic – ZyouK (So I Buried)

The Piqnic refer to themselves as a dark shoegaze band, with a focus on ‘dark’, which is otherwise almost non-existent in a pop-heavy Japanese shoegaze scene. Indeed the first batch of singles released from UK-based So I Buried Records included “hebi”, a track more tonally akin to A Place To Bury Strangers than anything in the pop spectrum. Whereas “hebi” and the album’s title track highlight a face-melting first half of the album, the Shizuoka four-piece also tones it down a bit on the latter half with tracks like “M-S” in which they veer into the avant garde with a quiet 10-minute exploration evolving into periodic outbursts. Whether by employing fuzzy bass and droning guitars or tripped out cavernous delay over a minimal backdrop, The Piqnic’s most redeeming quality is their ability to create intense songs. (buy it here)

3. Sourin – Sourin

Composer Tomoya Matsuura is perhaps best-known by music fans as the frontman of Osaka shoegaze unit Monocism, but he’s also an accomplished and award-winning photographer and 3D artist as well. His portfolio is largely focused on nature and similar themes have carried over into his current musical project Sourin. The album is a non stop flurry of guitar and vocal textures layered over each other again and again in a way that creates a sense of chaotic beauty. Highly recommended for fans of Sigur Ros. (buy it here)

2. Cactus Flower – Really Happy To See You

So Cactus Flower may not consider themselves a “shoegaze band” as much as an alternative band with some shoegaze influence, but the effect the genre has had on their sound resulted in one of the best shoegaze albums of the year. There’s a sense of heart wrenching nostalgia layered over with non-stop guitar noise and sweet melodies that should especially appeal to fans of Ride. There isn’t a weak point on Really Happy To See You, making it one of the most complete and enjoyable releases of the year. (buy it here)

1. Suichuu Zukan – 198X (Rallye Label)

Maybe better described as an alt rock album with shoegaze sensibilities, the band’s devotion to thick textures and wall-ish guitar noise – and the fact that it’s the best album I’ve heard this year – not only qualifies 198X for this list but has it seated right at the top. Suichuu Zukan’s first EP was great, their single last year was great, and this album is better than both of them. The tone of the guitars and the mastery with which they’re woven around a wide range of song styles over the course of the album is the main reason there’s no release I’ve enjoyed more this year. Add to that the fact that the Tokyo foursome (a fivesome until as recently as a couple months ago) does the male-female twin vocal thing better than anyone else. The band’s sound has a distinctly Japanese feel to it with a nod to 70s era kayou-kyoku on “櫻の園” and the minimalist chant-turned-psych-turned-post rock explosion of “シーン”. 198X is a showcase of some brilliant songwriting and its place atop my list is a no-brainer. (buy it here)

Talk of a shoegaze “revival” tends to rub some folks the wrong way. “Shoegaze never really went away” is what purists will say, while others cite the long-awaited release of My Bloody Valentine’s M B V in 2013 as the moment that the shoegaze ball got rolling at a steady pace again. It’s a topic of debate, but whatever the case may be, one undeniable fact is that shoegaze is a thing and a lot of people are doing it really well all over the world. To showcase that very fact, on February 11th North Wales-based indie label Ear to Ear Records in collaboration with Indonesia’s Gerpfast Kolektif will release Revolution – The Shoegaze Revival, a global compilation album including tracks from a whopping 30 shoegaze bands from 16 different countries.

Talk of a shoegaze “revival” tends to rub some folks the wrong way. “Shoegaze never really went away” is what purists will say, while others cite the long-awaited release of My Bloody Valentine’s M B V in 2013 as the moment that the shoegaze ball got rolling at a steady pace again. It’s a topic of debate, but whatever the case may be, one undeniable fact is that shoegaze is a thing and a lot of people are doing it really well all over the world. To showcase that very fact, on February 11th North Wales-based indie label Ear to Ear Records in collaboration with Indonesia’s Gerpfast Kolektif will release Revolution – The Shoegaze Revival, a global compilation album including tracks from a whopping 30 shoegaze bands from 16 different countries.

The mammoth comp features some of the best bands the shoegaze world has to offer – including Japan’s very own Spool, Ether Feels, and Magao – and will be available for FREE DOWNLOAD via Ear to Ear’s Bandcamp page. To whet your appetite until the actual release day, 15 tracks are currently available for a listen at said page. Two hours of brilliant tunes in the form of one release await you in February and if you are a fan of the genre, new or old, you should probably start getting excited.

Here is a full list of the bands that will be taking part:

Also there’s this neat teaser video put together by DKFM’s Greg Wilson: